UK Environment Agency approves PV scheme

Posted on September 24, 2013

PV CYCLE registers a WEEE Producer Compliance Scheme

Shropshire/London – PV CYCLE today announced that it has won Environment Agency approval to operate a Producer Compliance Scheme under the WEEE Regulations from January next year when photovoltaic (PV) panels come within scope.

The revised WEEE Regulations will require UK PV Producers, who are mainly importers, to join a Producer Compliance Scheme and to carry certain legal obligations under the new regulations. David Burton, Country Manager for PV CYCLE in the UK, welcomed the Government’s decision “Our approval to operate a scheme creates a great opportunity for the PV sector to determine its own destiny and to maintain control of its costs through a PV industry-led approach as an alternative to other compliance providers”. PV CYCLE UK has confirmed that it is now building upon its established collection infrastructure in response to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) condition for the creation of a unique additional category for PV panels – a move which avoids the sector bearing a proportion of the costs of the collection of waste consumer products.

Registration of the Producer Compliance Scheme follows on from the announcement earlier in the year when the Brussels-based holding company, PV CYCLE Association aisbl, opened up a UK office to provide dedicated compliance solutions to UK PV companies. The UK operation provides both legal compliance to UK Producers and supports distributors, wholesalers, retailers and others to ensure a sustainable approach to the collection and recycling of PV panels at the end of life.

Jan Clyncke, Managing Director of PV CYCLE Association, explained “The UK is unique in Europe in that there is a compliance marketplace which, potentially, leaves the PV sector open to commercial exploitation. As an industry-focused scheme, our aim is to ensure that the PV sector remains in control through dedicated, independent and PV-driven solutions”.

Note to editors

PV CYCLE UK is a UK-focused initiative of PV CYCLE – the industry-led take-back and recycling solution for PV panel waste – providing full compliance services under the UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. Established in 2013, PV CYCLE UK plays a pivotal role in enabling UK-based PV companies to execute their waste treatment obligations. Our service is open to anyone who wishes to dispose of PV panels free of charge. You can also find PV CYCLE on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.